Fantasy Friday: Week 6

PITTSBURGH (93-7 THE FAN) — Week 6 of the season and the third week of dealing with BYE weeks and it looks like it will be the first in which it will have an effect on most leagues and owners. With the Saints, Bears and Panthers all off this week you put a lot of skill players and a top ranked defense on the shelf for the week. This is when good fantasy owners separate themselves from the rest. Anyone can draft 8 or 9 players to play, what makes a team is how much depth is on your roster.

The Steelers and Titans had a lot of potential fantasy players in their game last night. Personally I loved Ben Roethlisberger and his wide receivers in this match-up. Roethlisberger threw for 363 yards completing 24 passes but only 1 touchdown and he also threw 1 interception. He only completed 10 of those passes to his wide receivers however limiting their point totals. Another rule of thumb I have for the rest of the year, stay away from the Steeler defense. They are allowing lots of yards and points. They are also not getting the sack numbers or turnovers that they have had in the past. They are a good bench team, but only worth playing if your top defense is on BYE.

Here are my stars and duds for week 6.

Quarterbacks To Play:Matt Ryan – Ryan has been fantastic this season, throwing 13 touchdowns to just 3 INT’s while throwing for over 250 yards in every game but one. I also am a sucker for going against West Coast teams traveling East and playing a 1pm kickoff. That is the case with the Raiders and their weak secondary playing in Atlanta on Sunday.

Matt Schaub – Playing against a questionable defense in Green Bay, I like Schaub this week despite statistically not having a great season. He has not gone over 300 yards and has only thrown for 3 or more scores once this season, but all signs point to this being a break out week for Schaub.

Quarterbacks to Bench:Tom Brady – Yes I am aware that the Patriots have scored 83 points over the past two games, but I just don’t like the match-up against the Seahawks defense in Seattle. The Seahawks defense has not allowed more than 251 from any one quarterback this year, I would expect that to continue this week as well.

Robert Griffin III – I actually like this match-up for Griffin and the Redskins this week, but any time you have a guy coming off of a concussion it is better to play it smart and wait and see how your quarterback plays in his first game back.

Running Backs to Play:Reggie Bush – The St. Louis Rams have allowed 6 rushing touchdowns and an average of 117 ypg on the ground this year in 5 games. Bush is playing well and is the main threat in the Dolphins offense.

Trent Richardson – Richardson has scored in each of the last 4 games and ran for 109 yards in week 2 when the Browns last played the Bengals. Richardson has become more and more of a key role in that Cleveland offense. The Bengals have struggled mightily defending the run this season.

Jamaal Charles – Brady Quinn will be the Chiefs starting quarterback this week, Charles should be VERY busy running the ball.

Running Back to Bench:Ahmad Bradshaw – Running against the 49ers defense is not an easy task. Bradshaw had a great week last week, but I can’t possibly see that type of production against this week.

Any Detroit Running Back – Philadelphia has not been good against the run this year, but the problem with the Lions is they have a lot of weapons on offense and some nice depth in the backfield. One would think that Mikel Leshoure would be the primary ball carrier for the Lions this week, but nobody knows for certain with a talent like Kevin Smith on the roster as well.

Wide Receivers to Play:Vincent Jackson – The even weeks of the season Jackson has gone over 100 yards and scored, the odd weeks he has yet to go over 50 yards and has not seen the end zone. Last time I checked, the number 6 was an even number.

Malcolm Floyd – He is the most targeted WR on the Chargers team and has double the yards of the next highest receiver on his team.

Wide Receivers to Bench:
Cowboy Receivers – The Baltimore Ravens defense has given up yards this year through the season, but not many points. They have allowed only 2 passing touchdowns in 5 games and that is facing offenses led by Tom Brady and Michael Vick.

Hakeem Nicks – Nicks has practiced this week, but is still banged up and will be going against a very physical 49ers defense.

That is your Fantasy Friday update for Week 6, as always good luck and don’t forget to update your rosters.